Barcelona is experiencing a critical moment after the poor performance against Chelsea, yet another symptom of a team that has lost its competitive edge and is forcing Joan Laporta to respond decisively.
The defeat made it clear that the squad is not ready to compete in the Champions League with confidence, especially after failing to beat top-level opponents such as Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
The internal feeling is clear: without significant signings, the project will not move forward. Barcelona wants to rebuild the squad.
Barcelona’s priority is to strengthen three key positions. The departure of Iñigo Martínez left a huge gap in the center of defense, a situation made worse by the recent poor performances of players expected to lead, such as Dani Olmo, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, and Lamine Yamal.
The club believes that this decline in overall performance requires decisive action in the upcoming summer transfer window.
In this context, Barcelona has drafted a plan that includes the arrival of a top-class left-footed center-back, a right-back who can truly compete with Kounde, and a center forward capable of becoming the team’s main attacking threat in the coming years.
These three signings are considered essential by sporting director Deco to raise the team’s competitive level.
Barcelona and its commitment to defensive signings
The first move is focused directly on the defense. The sporting director believes the team’s performance has declined since Iñigo Martínez left the club, so they are looking for a similar profile: strong, good at distributing the ball, and accustomed to high-pressure situations.
Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck are the two main candidates. Both have excellent reports and fit the vision of Hans-Dieter Flick, who knows the Borussia Dortmund defender very well, as he gave him his debut for the German national team.
Schlotterbeck is also seen as the more financially viable option, as his contract includes a release clause of around 60 million euros.
Bastoni, on the other hand, would require complex negotiations with Inter, which could delay the transfer.
The search is not limited to the left-sided center-back position. The second urgent need is the right-back role. Kounde’s mismatch in that position forces Barcelona to look for a true competitor.
Among the names Deco is considering are Vanderson and Andrei Ratiu, two different profiles but with a common denominator: intensity, consistency, and solidity in defensive duels.
A center forward, the biggest market necessity
The third signing will be a striker. Robert Lewandowski’s contract expires in June, and the club acknowledges that he can no longer carry the offensive burden as before. Ferran Torres, despite his efforts, does not inspire enough confidence to be the starting striker for a team with European ambitions.
Therefore, Barcelona considers Julian Alvarez their main target, a move that Laporta will pursue to the end despite financial difficulties and Manchester City’s resistance.
However, the club is exploring more affordable alternatives, such as Serhou Guirassy, one of the most explosive goalscorers in German football, or Etta Eyong, a promising young player with very attractive conditions.
The summer will be decisive for Barcelona, whose sporting rebuild depends largely on three key signings. Laporta, Deco, and Flick know that without these reinforcements, the project will not be able to compete with Europe’s giants. The objective is clear: to regain competitiveness and return the team to the elite.
